Search - Sergei Rachmaninov, Dmitri Alexeyev :: Rachmaninov: Preludes

Solid Rachmaninov from Alexeev

Alex Serrano | Perrysburg, Ohio United States | 05/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this cd as an alternative to the recordings i have of this music played by Ashkenazy, Shelley, and Weissenberg. Even though i knew of Alexeev's prowess, my expectations were not so high - but i have been quite positively surprised. Beyond the technique which in his case proves to be more than up to this consistently difficult music, Alexeev is able make the complete preludes for once as part of a whole (was this intended?) and make each of them indispensable for the conitinuity of the cycle. Also, the playing is virtuosic as Weissenberg, but adds the cool understanding of the Shelley cycle. The smaller works do not draw too much attention - precise and reverent playing. But the best comes last in the Moments musicaux op 16 - again, the feeling of each pice as indispensable to the cycle, and the lyrical and virtuosic characteristic of the pieces blended brilliantly. Great playing of music that deserves better reputation and a wider audience - well served by Virgin's budget price"

Good find and value.

Timothy P. Trokey | Saline, MI United States | 02/28/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This two CD set contains all the Rachmaninoff preludes which I discovered was not that easy to find in one collection. I like this album though I admit I had some initial reservations about it since I hadn't heard of this pianist and the fact that the composer's name is "different" on the cover (I believe Rachmaninoff himself preferred the double f ending to his name). The recording quality is very good; this is a DDD recording and a fairly recent one at that. The piano sound is very clear, the playing is lucid and crisp though perhaps pretty straightforward. It takes a pianist of some ability to play these pieces well and this CD shouldn't disappoint. In summary, this is a good recording, as good of an introduction to Rachmaninoff's piano music as any and all on two CDs."

Playing so beautiful it could win new converts

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 06/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rachmaninov is languishing. As the greatest pianist of his time, arguably of all time, the composer was his own best advocate. He toured the world playing whatever new pieces he had composed for his prodgious gifts. His successor was the fiery Horowitz, and after that, much of hte solo pieces died on the vine. We leave them to Russians, marveling at what Richter can do with preludes and tableaux that sound mushy or woozily chromatic unless there's a genius at the keyboard. Not many pianists today look far beyond the Second and Third piano concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.



Dmitri Alexeyev's playing is so beautiful and poetic that it could win some new converts, however. He has the touch of a born Chopinist (so did Rachmaninov) as wel as a gift for song. Unlike many Russian virtuosos he doesn't bang, always a temptation when the notes come in fistfuls. And as recorded by Virgin, the piano Alexeyev plays is mellow and rich-sounding. Anyone new to Rachmaninov should begin with the Op. 23 Preludes that begin this 2-CD set. They are among the most popular of the solo works.



Listening to too much at a stretch poses dangers: Rachmaninov is often melancholy, languorous, dreamy, shapeless. But there's no doubt that he's a master. I was glad, after avoiding this music for a while, to be reminded of that fact by Alexeyev's winning renditions, among the easiest to listen to that I have ever encountered."